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Friday, 11 April 2014

Wuthering Heights

The Kate Bush frenzy was quite an
experience. Three of us, all on different laptops, shouting out updates: “it’s
loading, it’s loading!”, “bugger, the site’s frozen”, “the 17th has
gone – which others could we do?”, “hold, on – I can see available ones - yes,
yes, I think I...YES.”

That final sentence is a shortened version
of my screeching as I managed to secure tickets for my parents and me. We were
immensely fortunate. Twitter (that general arbiter of public consensus) was
divided between celebrations and lamentations.

It was quite incredible to see the
explosion surrounding that first announcement. Suddenly everyone was a Kate
Bush fan – with one or two in between the cacophony cleverly saying, “Oh, well
I don’t really get the fuss.” She
made headlines; old pictures dusted off to appear in print once more. Columns
were filed and set-list predictions made. The brilliant 'Never Underdressed' even
devoted a feature to her most memorable fashion choices.

Dismissing the scummy ticket touts, it
would be interesting to know the varying motives behind those who rushed to
secure concert places: nostalgia for the time when she was a fresh young thing?
Final fulfilment for missing out on the1979 tour? An avid love for all things
Kate? A younger generation - myself included - with our second hand vinyl and
Hounds of Love on repeat in iTunes, keen to hear her live? Dare I say, for
some, merely the desire to be able to say that they’ve seen her in the flesh –
that they were there?

Part of the thrill of the entire thing
rests in Kate Bush’s complete refusal of celebrity. We know little about her,
beyond those mesmerizing songs. She was, and is, primarily a visual and vocal
presence. Accessible through photographs, music videos and albums (as well as
the occasional interview or documentary), our perception is informed by the
clarity of her art and image, rather than her personal life. ‘Kate Bush’ as an
entity is composed from that Wuthering Heights dance; those heavily outlined
eyes in Army Dreamers; an array of outfits from leotards to long dresses; the kaleidoscope effect; soft focus videos later replaced with unfolding narratives – all topped off with a fuzz of big hair, outlandish facial expressions and a
swooping voice.

We can chart her progress from ethereal
sprite to sensual woman as the albums go by. Yet perhaps to label her as such,
to suggest a clear movement from one to the other, is to limit her. Her videos yield multiple personas: of witch, warrior,
schoolboy, theatre luvvie, woodland princess, dancer, explorer, bank robber,
spurned wife, queen. And those are just a handful of the more easily
recognisable characters. Try adjectives instead: witchy, weird, sensuous,
playful, strong, fragile, feminine, androgynous, confident, athletic,
otherworldly. All fit.

It’s that constant innovation and
intelligence I adore. The keen creativity. The theatricality and continual
reinvention. The songs that reach the nerves. Her voice has accompanied hours
of dancing, jogging, fashion shoots, essay writing, surgery recovery, train
journeys, sketching and evenings fuelled by friends, wine and conversation.
She’s also one of the few artists I return to again and again for inspiration –
be it for her fantastical dress sense, her sharp work ethic, her bold videos, unashamed
individuality or just a bloody wonderful album.

When I was five, I’d raid the dressing up
trunk and then spin around the living room to 'The Red Shoes'. Some thirteen
years later, I’m now raiding my own wardrobe and spinning from place to place. And come September I’ll be raiding my most outrageous finery and spinning off to
the Hammersmith Apollo. Who knows what we’ll see and hear there – but I’m sure
it will be spectacular.

Need I explain the outfit? My homage to the (in)famous Kate Bush Wuthering Heights video (blurry still image below) was completed with a seventies dress from a vintage shop in Edinburgh, second hand accessories and shoes from Marks & Spencer. I managed to raise eyebrows from passing cars and had great fun leaping around the chilly, windy field. You can see a previous Kate Bush inspired shoot that I photographed with the gorgeous Evangeline Ling here.

oh wow! you look so much like Kate here! Beautiful pictures, i love the movement of the wind through your hair and dress.so neat that you were able to get tickets. Good for you!lovely writing, your discriptions of her are wonderful :)

I should have guessed by the triumphant red outfit that you'd scored your Kate Bush tickets, but I still had my heart in my mouth at your description of the mad rush to purchase this year's holy grail of concert experiences. I'm so happy you got them and I can't wait to see what you and she both wear on the big night! xoxoo

It's funny before I even read your delightful post I was thinking the outfit slightly echoed Kate Bush! What a splendid outfit and homage. It brings back memories of when my sister put me on to Kate Bush when I was a teen. :) xo

Ah you have created the most beautiful, brilliant homage to la Bush! The poses, the jewel bright outfit, and that mysterious, radiance and playfulness, qualities I've always thought you shared with her.

Like you I am SUCH a fan. But it wasn't always so. My partner introduced me properly to her music was I was in my mid 20s. That's when I knew he was the one for me. I can't believe that you managed to get tickets, how super wonderful! Please do take some photos of the event and tell us all about it!

I must admit that I am not familiar with Kate Bush's work (don't hate me), but after this post of course I had to investigate. She seems to create from her heart and for me that's all that matters. No wonder she has so many fans. I'm glad you get to see this somewhat reclusive icon in person. The drama of this post makes ranks it among my favourites.

Really wonderful photographs, I bet they were fun to take. And congratulations again for securing some tickets!

Like you, I grew up with Kate. My Mum is a huge fan - The Kick Inside and Never For Ever are two of the first albums I listened to as a child. I recall being mesmerised by the reverse side of Never for Ever where Kate is flying! It puzzled me!

About Me

I'm a twenty year old english lit undergraduate and writer from a tiny UK village. Published in magazines including British Vogue, Violet, Lionheart and Teen Tatler, and on the Guardian, Vogue.co.uk and Oxfam websites. I'm also junior editor of Violet magazine. An occasional model, book lover and feminist with an appreciation for excellent coffee.
(Profile photo by Vanessa Jackman).

Copyright images and text 2014 Rosalind Jana. All rights reserved. All content is copyrighted to Rosalind Jana of Clothes Cameras and Coffee, unless otherwise stated. Do not reproduce the images or text without proper credit and/or permission from Rosalind at clothescamerasandcoffee@googlemail.com

All the photos not credited to a named photographer are taken using my Canon 5D, and are un-edited.